Bible Encyclopedia: Mammon

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

MAMMON

mam'-un (Mamonas): A common Aramaic word (mamon) for riches, used in Matthew 6:24 and in Luke 16:9, 11, 13. In these passages mammon merely means wealth, and is called "unrighteous," because the abuse of riches is more frequent than their right use. In Luke 16:13 there is doubtless personification, but there is no proof that there was in New Testament times a Syrian deity called Mammon. The application of the term in Matthew is apparent and requires no comment. In Luke, however, since the statement, "Make to yourselves friends out of the mammon of unrighteousness," follows as a comment on the parable of the Unjust Steward, there is danger of the inference that Jesus approved the dishonest conduct of the steward and advised His disciples to imitate his example. On the contrary, the statement is added more as a corrective against this inference than as an application. `Do not infer,' He says, that honesty in the use of money is a matter of indifference. He that is unfaithful in little is unfaithful in much. So if you are not wise in the use of earthly treasure how can you hope to be entrusted with heavenly treasure?' The commendation is in the matter of foresight, not in the method. The steward tried to serve two masters, his lord and his lord's creditors, but the thing could not be done, as the sequel shows. Neither can men serve both God and riches exalted as an object of slavish servitude. Wealth, Jesus teaches, does not really belong to men, but as stewards they may use wealth prudently unto their eternal advantage. Instead of serving God and mammon alike we may serve God by the use of wealth, and thus lay up treasures for ourselves in heaven. Again, the parable is not to be interpreted as teaching that the wrong of dishonest gain may be atoned for by charity. Jesus is not dealing with the question of reparation. The object is to point out how one may best use wealth, tainted or otherwise, with a view to the future.

Russell Benjamin Miller

Greek

3126. mamonas -- riches
... mammon. Of Chaldee origin (confidence, ie Wealth, personified); mammonas, ie Avarice
(deified) -- mammon. (mamona) -- 4 Occurrences. 3125, 3126. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3126.htm - 6k

Library

Making Friends of Mammon
... LVIII MAKING FRIENDS OF MAMMON. Luke xvi.1-10. ... He says further that you cannot
serve this world of Mammon and serve God also. You must choose. ...
/.../peabody/mornings in the college chapel/lviii making friends of mammon.htm

The Unrighteous Mammon
... SERMON XXIV. THE UNRIGHTEOUS MAMMON. ... Our Lord says, that we are to copy him by making
ourselves friends of the Mammon of unrighteousness: but how? ...
/.../kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon xxiv the unrighteous mammon.htm

God and Mammon.
... SERMON XXVI. GOD AND MAMMON. MATTHEW VI.24. Ye cannot serve God and
Mammon. This is part of the Gospel for this Sunday; and ...
/.../kingsley/westminster sermons/sermon xxvi god and mammon.htm

June 16. "Ye Cannot Serve God and Mammon" (Matt. vi. 24).
... JUNE 16. "Ye cannot serve God and Mammon" (Matt. vi. 24). "Ye cannot
serve God and Mammon" (Matthew 6:24). He does not say ye ...
/.../simpson/days of heaven upon earth /june 16 ye cannot serve.htm

The Marcionite Interpretation of God and Mammon Refuted the ...
... Chapter XXXIII."The Marcionite Interpretation of God and Mammon Refuted The Prophets
Justify Christ's Admonition Against Covetousness and Pride. ...
/.../chapter xxxiii the marcionite interpretation of.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Luke xvi. 9, "Make to Yourselves ...
... Sermon LXIII. On the words of the Gospel, Luke xvi. 9, "Make to yourselves friends
by means of the mammon of unrighteousness," etc. [CXIII. Ben.] ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon lxiii on the words.htm

Answer to an Objection, Arising from the Words of Christ (Matt. vi ...
... also, that [text] which says, "Ye cannot serve two masters," [3365] He does Himself
interpret, saying, "Ye cannot serve God and mammon;" acknowledging God ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter viii answer to an objection.htm

The Sermon on the Mount.
... the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. [Mammon was a common Chaldee
word used in the East to express material riches. It is ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xlii the sermon on the 6.htm

Although, Therefore, Celsus Would, in his Own Words, "Drive us ...
... those who, according to Celsus, are set over the affairs of this world; for "no
man can serve two masters," and we "cannot serve God and mammon," whether this ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter lvi although therefore celsus.htm

Chapter xiv.
... And these words are to be carefully considered; for who the two masters are he
forthwith shows, when He says, "Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Riches are said ...
/.../augustine/our lords sermon on the mount/chapter xiv 2.htm

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

Mammon

riches

Easton's Bible Dictionary

A Chaldee or Syriac word meaning "wealth" or "riches" (Luke 16:9-11); also, by personification, the god of riches (Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:9-11).

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(n.) Riches; wealth; the god of riches; riches, personified.

Thesaurus

Mammon (4 Occurrences)
...MAMMON. ... In these passages mammon merely means wealth, and is called "unrighteous,"
because the abuse of riches is more frequent than their right use. ...
/m/mammon.htm - 10k

Unrighteous (32 Occurrences)
... Luke 16:9 I tell you, make for yourselves friends by means of unrighteous mammon,
so that when you fail, they may receive you into the eternal tents. ...
/u/unrighteous.htm - 16k

Lords (63 Occurrences)
... serve two lords, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will
hold to the one, and despise the other; ye are not able to serve God and Mammon...
/l/lords.htm - 28k

Either (152 Occurrences)
... other. You can't serve both God and Mammon. ... other. You aren't able to serve
God and mammon." (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/e/either.htm - 38k

Devoted (72 Occurrences)
... other. You can't serve both God and Mammon. (WEB NAS RSV NIV). ... other. You
aren't able to serve God and mammon." (See NAS RSV NIV). ...
/d/devoted.htm - 29k

Despise (64 Occurrences)
... You can't serve both God and Mammon. (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ... You
aren't able to serve God and mammon." (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV). ...
/d/despise.htm - 25k

Masters (59 Occurrences)
... other. You can't serve both God and Mammon. ... other. You aren't able to serve
God and mammon." (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV). ...
/m/masters.htm - 26k

Riches (118 Occurrences)
... Compare MAMMON; TREASURE; WEALTH. ... Luke 16:11 If therefore you have not been faithful
in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? ...
/r/riches.htm - 41k

Serve (407 Occurrences)
... You can't serve both God and Mammon. (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ... You
aren't able to serve God and mammon." (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/s/serve.htm - 39k

Hate (177 Occurrences)
... other. You can't serve both God and Mammon. ... other. You aren't able to serve God
and mammon." (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/h/hate.htm - 39k

Bible Concordance

Mammon (4 Occurrences)

Matthew 6:24 "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can't serve both God and Mammon.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Luke 16:9 I tell you, make for yourselves friends by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when you fail, they may receive you into the eternal tents.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Luke 16:11 If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. You aren't able to serve God and mammon."
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Subtopics

Mammon

Mammon: Wealth

Related Terms

Unrighteous (32 Occurrences)

Lords (63 Occurrences)

Either (152 Occurrences)

Devoted (72 Occurrences)

Despise (64 Occurrences)

Masters (59 Occurrences)

Riches (118 Occurrences)

Serve (407 Occurrences)